Disclaimer: Rowling owns them, I make them do things. Plot, as far as I know, is mine though. Yeeaaah.

A/N: Due to well, people asking me, I'll continue with this. Thanks for all the reviews I got when I woke up. Ah. Things like that are nice. Thank you again! Whoo!

**** The teapot was hissing and Snape took it off the fire, wincing as he burned his hand on the hot metal. Dumbledore said he might be connected with her. 'Surely not.' His presence couldn't have been strong enough to link him with her. Interesting. But of course he would have to take responsibility with this! And of course Albus would look to him to fix this! Never mind the fact that it was obvious the girl was preparing herself for death, and never mind the fact that he would be the one who, if successful, would be the one to see her like that. 'Yes,' he thought, 'I'm pouting. I've earned it.' He poured his cup of tea and sat down on one of his surprisingly comfortable arm chairs in front of the fire. 'Well, I do need sleep if I'm to actually go through with this.' He took a sip of his tea. He loved tea. And making it the "old-fashioned" way was so much better than conjuring it up. It always calmed him down, if calm was to be had.

****

"Harry Potter! You come to finally meet your death..." The high-pitched raspy voice rang out in the room. Severus held his ground hidden just behind the doorway.

"Crucio!" The curse was directed at Hermione and she screamed and convulsed under it while Voldemort laughed. Harry fought against the chains that held him to the wall.

"Leave her alone you bastard!" Tears stung his eyes as he watched his best friend writhe in pain when a dark figure snuck into the room. Voldemort's wand twitched effectively cutting off the curse on Hermione. She lay exhausted and spasming on the ground.

"Oh Harry, I am going to enjoy this.."

****

Snape blinked and let out the breath he didn't realize he had been holding. He just wanted to forget about that night. What if he could save Hermione? She has nothing left to come back to. She'd just go right back to her death bed and it would all be over. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. Long ago he had promised the Headmaster he would not take his life, but that was before Voldemort had been destroyed. Sure, there were a few stray Death Eaters to be hunted down, but the Ministry could handle them. It would be so easy, to just let go. Be free. Freedom. Did he ever know what that was? Maybe there was a time when he knew what it was to be truly free when he was younger. That is, until his brother died. His parents never forgave him. It really hadn't been his fault, but over time he had come to agree with his parents. Maybe Hermione has it all figured out. Death is the only freedom. But only after he sorted this current situation out that was waiting for him in the hospital wing. Then perhaps his debts would be paid and he would leave. Forever.

Snape got up and walked into his bedroom scowling. He shrugged out of his robes and slipped into bed nude. He couldn't sleep otherwise else the tangled sheets would claim his life as he tossed and turned. As he lay in bed he wondered what it would be like to go inside another's mind. It was a rare thing, not easily done, it required powerful magic indeed. He yawned and gazed out the window at the stars, which was a favorite pastime of his. His eyelids were drooping just as he felt a soft thump at the bottom of his bed. 'That blasted feline!' he though. Hermione's familiar had taken up residence with him when his Mistress didn't return. Harry, Ron and Hermione had come up to the castle for the final battle and she had brought her pet with her. But since that fateful night, the cat was determined to stay with Snape. He remembered how different they were when they first arrived than to that of their school age selves. Obviously they had grown up; they had graduated four years earlier. Each had been successful: Harry being The Boy Who Lived, had taken a job as an auror with the Ministry and was predictably successful. 'Big surprise there,' he though sarcastically. Ron Weasley had taken a job in a Magical Innovations department for professional Quidditch and was a leading authority on racing brooms. While Hermione had became the youngest department head at the Ministry's Research and Development office in London ever. He had definitely noticed Hermione. She had certainly grown up and in more ways than one. He knew it was inappropriate to have noticed, but as Filius Flitwick had mentioned, before he died, in one of their late evening chats, he'd have to be a blind man to not have noticed. They were so young, and full of promise if not a bit tarnished from the world. The war had nicked away at everyone. And now look at them; they were all in at least some way destroyed. Sensing the man's distress, the cat slinked up the bed to nuzzle Severus' face. He reminded the feline of his Mistress. Snape didn't mind. It was actually soothing and soon was lulled into sleep by the feline's deep and rhythmic purrs.

Snape awoke with the gray of dawn after a fretful night's sleep. Not that he'd expect anything less, but at least he got a few hours in. He stretched and looked down at the orange mass of fur under one of his pillows. "Blasted feline." He reached across and affectionately scratched the top of the ginger cat's head and was rewarded with a purr. He crossed the room to go into the bathroom and take a quick shower and then ate some breakfast. Dry toast and coffee, black. He had a feeling his nerves would not allow for more. He then changed into his customary black school robes and made his way to the infirmary where, unsurprisingly, Dumbledore was already waiting.

"Ah Severus. Come in my friend. I trust you had a good night's rest?" Dumbledore smiled at Snape's grumbled response.

"As good as can be anticipated." Snape peered over the older man's shoulder at Hermione lying motionless as ever on the bed. "Nothing?" his eyes held a brief flicker of hope but the bleak look in Albus' face told him his answer. "Well then, I have no choice but to comply with your wishes. What would you have me do?"

"You always have a choice Severus," the Headmaster locked his eyes with Severus'. "As I said before, I believe due to the traumatic experience you and Miss Granger shared linked you before she slipped away. I also believe using the Communis Spell could possibly join you two inside her consciousness. Can you handle this Severus?"

Snape paused before giving his answer. This would be tough, not to mention it would drain a considerable amount of energy, mainly from him. But, he had a chance to at least *try* to save one more person unselfishly before he himself left this world. And with that final thought he squared his shoulders and answered, "Yes. I can. What must I do?"

Poppy Pomfrey, the mediwitch on staff at Hogwarts stood by watching nervously, as did Minerva McGonagall the Deputy Headmistress. As Severus took hold of Hermione's hands Dumbledore began a complex incantation that moments later Snape himself joined in. Snape began to feel light headed as the spell wove itself into his mind and body. He slowly sank into a nearby chair careful not to lose his train of thought or his grip on Hermione's hands. His body started to tingle and his vision blurred as the spell took effect. Then, everything was black.

He was in the middle of a very white room. Well, it could be a room but there were no walls. He felt very much disoriented as he waited for his mind and vision to clear and he slowly stood up and looked around the space- there was no Hermione. 'Oh Gods..I know I am not lost in a hidden part of Hermione's conscious..' Suddenly the whiteness of the room took on a golden glow and objects became clearer. A large oriental style rug covered the floor, a couple of wingback chairs sat facing an enormous marble fireplace- complete with burning flames, and perpendicular to the fireplace stood an elaborate bookshelf filled to the brim..and a door, but still no Hermione. The light in the room was faint, and retained its golden hue as Snape made his way over the abstract sitting room. Just as he was sitting down into one of the large chairs he heard a weak voice.

"Hello?" Hermione appeared in the doorway. She looked ghastly. Her complexion was pale, her eyes waxy and her hair unkempt. Her clothes looked rumpled and she was alive- but just barely. The disheveled girl braced herself against the door jamb and looked quizzically at her guest. She had a feeling she knew this man, but could not quite place it. Snape abruptly stood at stared at Hermione. It had worked.

"Ah, how are you feeling Miss Granger?" he took a step towards her but stopped as she tensed. A full minute went by and he thought this was all just one big mistake and then she answered.

"Well, I have been better," her face was impassive and her eyes were dull. She was living death in itself. "If you don't mind my asking..who are you?"
********

Evil little cliffhanger eh? Thanks to all who responded, it means a lot to me. Seriously, reviews are wholly welcomed. Thanks to my Shan love for the Latin.